Adjustable center reflex table



Aug. 8, 1950 P.` R. KOERPER ADJUSTABLE CENTER REFLEX TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 INVENTOR. E Qi/@P27764 ATTD R N EYE P. R. KOERPER 2,517,681

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Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED e STATESi PATENT OFFICE I Y e ,2,517,6s1v n i i ADJUSTABLE CENTER REFLEX TABLE Phillip R. Koerper, lCulver City, Calif. Application Novemberze, 194s, serial No. 62,523

" (o1. 12s-vo) l e Claims. 1 I y l I This invention relates to folding orcollapsible tables of the type commonly referred to as operating tables and particularly adapted for use` in osteopathic, chiropractic,l and electrotherapeutic treatments, and in particular the invention relates to a table of this type having a center yielding or reflex section and in which the parts are adapted to be folded to form a suitcase. l

The purpose of this invention is to provide a table adapted for chiropractic and other-treatments that may be used in the oce and that may `readily be folded so that it may also be used for residence calls.` I s In the usual tables of this type the parts are relatively heavy and cumbersome so that `they are not adaptedto be readily folded and carried n in an automobile, car, or train and, therefore, they arelnot adapted for residence use. [With this thought in mindthis invention contemplates a table adapted to be folded to form a `suitcase in which the operative surfaces are padded to` form cushions and in which the frame work and folding llegs are formed of comparatively few parts and of lightweight material. i

The object ofthis inventionis, therefore, `to provide means for constructing acollapsible `or folding table `wherein the folding elements are comparatively small, of lightweight material, and adapted to be folded into a comparatively small area.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved table for chiropractic `treatments and the like which is formed with a yielding center section and in which all of the parts may be folded into a compact case representing a suitcase. i

Another object of the invention is to provide I a folding portable table of comparatively light weight construction in which the table when set up has suicient rigidity to permit chiropractic and osteopathic treatments.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved portable folding table adapted for chiropractic treatments and the like which is of a simple and economical construction. n

With these and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists of the new `and ruseful combination, construction, and arrangements of parts hereinafterlmore fully described,"

set forthin the claims appended hereto and disl closed in the accompanying drawings forming` parts hereof, wherein: l v

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of the table in `theset up position; f i I I 2 i l I Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal section through thetable in the position shown in Figure l with the center section shown in the depressed position in dotted line; i i

Figure 3 is a plan View of the table inthe position as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a View looking upward toward the under side of the table with the `parts in the e position asshown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevational viewqlooking toward the under side of the section of the table that is formed in two parts with the legs in the folding position therein; i

Figure 6 is a similar View looking toward the complete section of the case and showing the legs folded therein;

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the table in the folded position;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan through the table showing the parts in the folded position; l

Figure@ is a typical cross section through the table showing the parts in the set up position and illustrating the legs in the end section of the table;

Figure 10 is a similar section taken online lll-l'oi Figure 2 showing the resilient legs for supporting one side of the center section `ofthe table; l i

Figure 1l is a detail showing a vertical section through one of the resilient legs used on the center section of the table. i

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the portable folding table of this invention includes a complete section I0 which when folded forms one side of the case, hinged end sections II `and I2 which when folded form the other side of the case, and a head rest "|3. v

The section I0 is formed with a box-like frame `having a side wall I4 with ends I5 and I6 and sides I'I and I8. `The wall Ill` is covered by a comparatively soft cushioning material such as sea foamor sponge rubber and this is covered with a finishing layer of material such as` leatherette. The cushioning material, in all sections, is indicated by the numeral I9 and the leatherette bythe numeral 20 and it `will be noted that the leatherette extends downwardly across the sides and ends with the edge thereof folded around the sides and ends of the' case. This material may be gummed to the Walls of the case or secured thereto by any suitable means. `The `sections II and I2 are also of box-like formation, the outer hinged section IIhaving a side panel 2|` with an end 22 and sidewalls 23, yand the inner hinged section I2 having a side panel 24 with an end 25 and sides 26 and 2. The sections II and I2 are hinged together by a .piano like hinge 28 and the sides are retained in the open position by jackknife braces 29.

The section I6 is supported on four legs 36 and the legs are pivotally attached to clip angles 3| on the side wall by pins 32. The legs are supported in upright positions by jackknife braces 33 which are pivotally attached to the legs by a pin 34 and to the side wall I4 by clips 35 and pins 36. The .pairs of legs at the ends are supported by tie rods 3l as shown in Figures 2 and 9. With the parts arranged in this manner the legs may readily be folded into the open area inside of the section i6 as shown in yFigure 6.

The `section II is supported by similar legs 38 which are pivotally mounted on the side wall 2I by clip angles 39 and pins 46. These Vlegs are supported in the upright position by jackknife braces-4I thatarepivotally attached to the legs by pins 42 and tothe side wall 2l byclips 43and pins 44. The section I I is also provided with legs 45 that are pivotally attached to the side wall 2i byclip angles 46 and pins el Yand these legs are supported from .the legs 33 by braces 4S which` are attached to the legs 38 at one end by bolts 49 and .to the legs 45 at the other by bolts 56.

The section I2 is suspended from the section Il at one end by. the hinge 26 and the opposite end -is supported by legs 5I which are formed as shown in vFigure 1l with inner telescoping sleeves 52 and with the sleeves held in vextended positions by springs 53 the lower ends of which rest on pins 54 in the outer tubes 5i and the upper ends of which engage pins 55,111 the. inner tubesf52.

The upper ends of the tubes 520i the .legs El are pivotally mounted on the panel 24 of the section I2 by clips 56 and pins. 5l, and these. legs are adapted .to fold into the .interior of the sections Il and I2, as shown in Figures 5 and 8. The lower ends of the legs 6l are attached by a cross brace 58 as shown in Figure l0. The adjoining edges of the sides of the sections il and l2 are beveled as shown at the points 59 and 6u `and with the sections connected by the hinge 26 and the outer end of the section l2 supported on the legs 5I, this section may be pressed downward as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, which provides a center yielding .or reflex section to facilitate chiropractic treatments.

The head rest I3 is for-med with two outwardly extending arms 6I and 62 and these are provided with a clip angle 63 that -may be removably mounted thereon by screws 64 through which the head, rest may be removably attached to the end of the section Il by thumb screws 65. The head rest may be readily removed and packed inside of the case.

T-he legs are provided with cup shaped elements of rubber or other resilient material as indicated by the numeral 66 which hold the table rigid in the` operative position as shown in Figure l.

The lower edges of the sections of the table are provided with separable fasteners 6'! through which the sections may be hinged together and the upper edges are provided with snap fasteners with sections 68 thereof on the sections II and I2 and coacting sections 65 on the section I6'. The section I0 may also be provided `with a handle 10.

With the parts arranged in this manner the legs may be folded into the open areas in the sections as shown in Figures 5,` 6 and 8 and with the sec- 4manipulated at the will of the operator.

tions fastened together as shown in Figure 7 the device will have the appearance of a suitcase or bag and may readily be carried in a motor vehicle, street car, plane, or train. When it is desired to use the table it is only necessary to open the sections and draw the legs outward to the positions shown in Figure 2. With the table set up in this manner it may readily be used for osteopathic, chiropractic, and electrotherapeutic treatments, and particularly for treatments of the spine, the patient may be placed face down on the table and the lower parts of the spine The center reex section of the table is adapted to move downward about 4 inches under pressure exerted by the operator on the portion of the patients body positioned above this section. The

table provides sufficient room for the operator to adjust the patient to the dorsal and lumbar region efficiently and the yielding center section does notinterfere with the comfort of the patient .in other treatments suchas adjusting a sacroiliac.

It .will be understood that modications may be madein the design and arrangement of the parts with-out departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable folding table comprising two substantially hollow complementary box-like sectic-ns, one of said sections being rigid and the other hinged 4midway of the length thereof, legs pivotally mounted in the rigid section and VVconstructed to fold into the open area therein, legs f pivotally mounted in one of said hinged sections and constructed to fold into open areas in said sections, diagonally disposed jack knife braces-for holding thelegs in the sections in upright positions, theother of said hinged sections supported :atone side Vby the said hinged section havingthe legs thereon through the hinge, legs having resilient elements therein supporting the side of said other hinged section opposite to that on which the hinge lis positioned and pivotally :mounted in said section, and separable fasteners removably securing the sections together.

2. A portable folding table comprising two substantially hollow complementary box-like sections, one of said sections being rigid and the other hinged midway of the length thereof, legs pivotally mounted in the rigid section and constructed to fold into the open area therein, `legs pivotally mounted in one of said hinged sections and constructed to fold into open areas in Asaid sections, diagonally disposed jack knife braces for holding the legs. in the sections in upright positions, the other of said hinged sections supported through the hinge at one. sideby said hinged section having the legs thereon, legs having resilient elements therein supporting the side of said other hinged section opposite to that on Iwhich the hinge is positioned and pivotally mounted in said section, and separable fasteners removably securing the ksections together, the outer surfaces of said box like sections covered with flexible material with cushioning means under the said flexible material.

3. .A portable folding table comprising two substantially hollow complementary box-like sections, one of said sections being rigid and the other hinged midway of the length thereof, legs pivotally mounted in the rigid section and constru-cted to fold into the open area therein, legs pivotally mounted in one of said hinged sections and constructed to vfold into open areas in said sections, diagonally disposed jack knife braces for holding the legs in the sections in upright positions, the other of said hinged section supported at one side by the said hinged section having the legs thereon through the hinge, legs having resilient elements therein supporting the side of said other hinged section opposite to that on which the hinge is positioned and pivotally mounted in said section, cup shaped resilient elements positioned on the lower ends of the legs, and separable fasteners removably securing the sections together.

4. A portable folding table comprising two substantially hollow complementary box-like sections, one of said sections being rigid and the other hinged midway of the length thereof providing outer and inner hinged sections, legs pivotally mounted in the rigid section and constructed to fold into the open area therein, legs pivotally mounted in the outer hinged section and constructed to fold into an open area in said section, diagonally disposed jack knife braces for holding the legs in the sections in upright posi tions, the said inner hinged section being supported at one side by the outer hinged section having the legs thereon, legs having resilient elements therein supporting the side of said hinged section opposite to that supported by the outer hinged section and pivotally mounted in said section, a head rest removably mounted on the end of the outer section, and separable fasteners removably securing the sections together.

5. A portable folding table comprising two substantially hollow complementary rectangular shaped cases having side walls with ends and sides, suitable covering material covering the outer surfaces of said cases, a layer of cushioning material under said covering material, one of i said cases being rigid and the other hinged mid- Way of the length thereof, legs pivotally mounted by clip angles to the side wall of the rigid case and constructed to fold within said case, legs pivotally mounted in one of said hinged sections of the other case and adapted to fold within said case, said legs also mounted by clip angles through the side wall of the case, diagonally positioned jack knife braces supporting the legs in upright positions, the other of the hinged sections of the case supported at one side by the section having the legs therein by the hinge, telescoping legs supporting the other side of said hinge section, resilient means in said telescoping legs for urging the said legs to extended positions, friction cups on the ends of the legs of both of the cases, means removably attaching both of the cases together,

and a handle mounted on a side of one of the cases.

PHILLIP R. KOERPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,065,199 Adams June 17, 1913 1,184,660 Rhine May 23, 1916 

